A Taste of L.A.: Inside The Food Event 2026

Posted Tuesday, October 13, 2026 12:20 pm

Jade Nikolaou (via Los Angeles Magazine)

More than 1,200 guests gathered at Calamigos Ranch Resort & Spa in Malibu on Sunday for Los Angeles magazine’s The Food Event, an afternoon celebrating the restaurants, wineries, spirits and brands that make Los Angeles one of the most exciting food cities in the world.

Set against the Malibu mountains, the sold-out celebration unfolded beneath an unusually warm October sun, with guests moving through the property from the wine garden to the lounges, brand activations and dozens of culinary booths. DJ Alan provided the soundtrack as friends gathered over glasses of wine, cocktails and an endless stream of bites.

At the heart of the afternoon was the food. Guests sampled everything from sushi and handrolls to steak, tacos, Middle Eastern specialties, Italian dishes, Thai cuisine, chocolate and gelato. Culinary standouts included Katsuya by SBE, STK Steakhouse, Mastro’s Ocean Club Malibu, Four Seasons Hotel at Beverly Hills, Bacari, Fitoor, Love & Salt, Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen, Dear Neighbor Handrolls, Descanso Restaurant, Fuegos LA and Bianca Sicilian Trattoria, among many others.

The wine garden offered a chance to slow down and sip through an impressive collection of wineries representing regions across California and beyond. From Napa Valley and Paso Robles to Santa Rita Hills, Sonoma, Malibu and Provence, the garden became a destination of its own as guests discovered new bottles and revisited old favorites.

The event’s major brand experiences gave guests plenty of reason to keep exploring.

The Cadillac Lounge offered a polished retreat amid the afternoon festivities, while the Ferguson Lounge brought an interactive element to the grounds with a live demonstration that gave guests an inside look at the products and expertise behind the brand. It was the kind of experience that transformed a sponsor presence into something guests could actually see, experience and remember.

Elsewhere, Patrón kept the party moving with its cocktail experience, while Zini Vodka, Empress Gin, St-Germain, Dulce Vida Tequila and Mission Craft Cocktail added to the spirited lineup. LawVo created its own branded activation, while Brand Hustle gave guests a photo-worthy moment to capture the afternoon.

The deFIANT Gifting Suite offered another layer of discovery, giving guests a chance to browse and take home curated gifts as they made their way through the event.

And throughout it all, S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna kept guests refreshed, an especially welcome contribution on a day when the Malibu sun made its presence known.

There was something distinctly Los Angeles about the afternoon: incredible food, beautiful surroundings, thoughtful hospitality, ambitious brands, music in the air and a crowd eager to discover what was next.

The Food Event is ultimately about bringing people together around a shared love of food and the culture surrounding it. This year, that meant more than 1,200 guests gathering in the Malibu hills to taste, sip, connect and celebrate the city’s culinary community.

As the afternoon came to a close, the last glasses were raised and the final bites were enjoyed, guests left with full plates, new favorites and plenty of memories.